The Monticello High School Buckaroo Alumni from 1929 through 2011 met at the MHS auditorium on July 22 to begin the third quintennial “Roundup”. Prior events were held in 2000 and 2005.

The talent show included a wide range of talent, ranging from longtime Buckaroo alumni to entries from the Buckaroo class of 2026. A large number of friends from Blanding, including more than a few Broncos, participated in the program.

The program also featured recognition of some key alumni, including coach, teacher and principal Dale Maughan; teacher, principal and superintendent Dr. Ken Maughan; and Dr. LeRue W. Winget, the principal at MHS from 1948 to 1950.

In addition, Devin Wright and Macee Nielson, two outstanding alumni from the Class of 2011, were honored.

An MHS Alumni tribute was paid to Bill Boyle, Publisher/Editor of the San Juan Record for his long-time loyalty to the MHS Buckaroo Alumni Association and his on-going support for the events and activities by publishing news items about Buckaroo Alumni.

Early on Saturday, July 23, the Buckaroo Alumni met at Monticello Cemetery for their traditional Memorial Service honoring deceased Buckaroos from 1929 to the present. Four hundred and thirty seven balloons were released as the names of deceased Buckaroos were read. It was a moving and memorable occasion.

The focal point at the Memorial Service was a newly acquired, custom-made Buckaroo Alumni shelter. The portable shelter is being donated by the Alumni to MHS for use at all outdoor events as a rallying point for students and alumni.

The Alumni entered a float in the parade which featured banners highlighting the Alumni Roundup. The flat was mounted on an enclosed trailer pulled by a Ford tractor contributed by Jim Lyman, and driven by Carl Miller, both from the Class of ‘55.

Carl, who was raised in Eastland on his family farm, piloted large cargo planes for the Air Force and flew for some of the leading commercial airlines for many years. He says he has put in many more hours on a tractor than in these large planes. He was an outstanding Buckaroo leader and athlete back in the 50s.

The Alumni shelter was a rally point at Veterans Park after the parade. Many alumni stopped to visit and register as members of the Alumni Association.

On Saturday afternoon the Alumni met at the Monticello Stake Pavilion at the Blue Mountain dude ranch for a delicious catered meal by K&A Chuckwagon as they fellowshipped and listened to 1950s country and western music.

The organizers of the Roundup would like to thank the many alumni and friends who helped make it such a successful event.

These include Jim Lyman for the tractor and trailer for the parade float.

Thanks go to Scott Shakespeare, Jeff Hunt, Robin Garner, Curtis Welch, Kevin Doud and Lynda Boyle from the MHS staff, who facilitated the use of the high school and the outdoor sound system used at the cemetery and dude ranch.

Also thanks to Bill Boyle and the San Juan Record staff for their excellent support in publishing news about the event.

Thanks to the Class Reps who updated their Class Rosters and communicated with classmates about the Roundup.

Also thanks to Paul Curtis and Brad Eldredge, who facilitated use of the Monticello Cemetery, to Joe Barton for transporting the chairs to the cemetery and Veterans Park and back to the Alumni storage unit and to Jeff Frost for setting up the Buckaroo shelter at both the cemetery and the park.

Finally, thanks to the Johnson’s, who are caretakers at the guest ranch and to Keith and Anna Clark for an excellent catered meal.

The big question is who amongst the Buckaroo Alumni will step up to see that the MHS Buckaroo Alumni Association perpetuates. Organizers of the Roundup encourage Alumni to consider serving in one of the ten Alumni Association Board positions: President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Presidents for Buckaroos from 1929 to 1954, 1955 to 1969, 1970 to 1984, 1985 to 1999, and 2000 to 2015.

The Historian position is filled by Carolyn Young. She plans to research Buckaroo years 1929 through 1946 to develop history and gather photos for each of those years.

The fourth quintennial Roundup is scheduled for the two days around July 24, 2015. All Buckaroo Alumni are encouraged to keep that date on their calendar so all can enjoy a great reunion of classmates, staff and Buckaroo supporters.

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